Heading drills

Heading is a difficult technique to coach to young players in particular. This section provides some great drills and advice to help you coach defensive headers and attacking headers. We look closely at the techniques involved and show you some fun games to help develop your player’s heading skills.

Soccer coaching tips for a diving header
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The first goal that really made me sit up and think soccer was the best game in the world was a diving header. Back in 1972, Leeds United beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final when Alan Clarke scored with one, says David Clarke. These are the soccer coaching tips and skills your players will need.

Soccer drill to get your defenders clearing high balls
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A great way to put defenders under pressure during a soccer coaching session is to set up a soccer drill where players bombard your best three defenders with high balls into the penalty area, so they have to work hard to clear them using headers or volleys.

Soccer heading skills game
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As a follow-on from coaching the Heading skills soccer drill, try putting your players' skill into a game situation. This game gives your players more opportunity to attack with their headers but at the same time keeps the drill simple so they concentrate on their position and technique.

Heading soccer drill for older players
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When your players get to U10 and U11, this is the age they become strong enough to use heading skills properly in matches. Having instilled in them the confidence to head the ball at an early age (click here for a fun heading skills drill aimed at younger players) they will move onto more aggressive heading with some good soccer coaching tips from you.

Try the crossbar challenge
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One of the things I like to do when my team is having a game-day soccer coaching session is our version of the crossbar challenge, which makes practising heading skills into a fun drill.

How to coach a flick on header
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A flick-on header is used to direct the ball to a team-mate or into a dangerous area of the pitch. The idea is to keep the ball going in a forward direction over or around the defender when passing the ball is difficult.

How to use the flick-on header
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When your defenders win the ball deep in their own half, what do they do with it? I often see a big kick up the pitch, which gives the ball straight back to the opposition.

Continual heading
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Like throw-ins, headers continually occur in matches and are a great way to score goals. If you go to the trouble of getting your wingers to cross the ball into the penalty area, then you want an end product.

Teaching the basics of heading
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Winning the ball in the air is one of the key skills for any defender. This simple exercise can teach your players the basics of heading.

Continual heading soccer drill
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Like throw-ins, headers continually occur in matches and are a great way to score goals. If you go to the trouble of getting your wingers to cross the ball into the penalty area then you want an end product.